Donald Trump 'asked FBI director James Comey to consider imprisoning reporters' - Independent

Donald Trump 'asked FBI director James Comey to consider imprisoning reporters'

Memo read to US media appears to show President also asked investigator to drop Michael Flynn probe

• Jon Sharman 
• Wednesday 17 May 2017 09:14 BST

Donald Trump told James Comey he should consider trying to imprison journalists for publishing classified information, it has been claimed.

The request surfaced in a New York Times report that also claimed Mr Trump asked the former FBI director to drop his investigation into Michael Flynn, the ex-national security adviser.

According to a memo written by Mr Comey and read to the paper, Mr Trump began their discussion by condemning leaks to the media and said Mr Comey should jail reporters who published classified information.

Mr Comey, who was known to keep a paper trail of sensitive meetings, chronicled the president's request soon after the February Oval Office meeting with the president, an associate who has seen the memo said.

Bruce Brown, director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said: "The comments attributed to President Trump cross a dangerous line. But no president gets to jail journalists.

"Reporters are protected by judges and juries, by a congress that relies on them to stay informed, and by a Justice Department that for decades has honoured the role of a free press by spurning prosecutions of journalists for publishing leaks of classified information.

"Comments such as these, emerging in the way they did, only remind us that every day public servants are reaching out to reporters to ensure the public is aware of the risks today to rule of law in this country. The President's remarks should not intimidate the press but inspire it."

On Tuesday Mr Trump tweeted: "I have been asking Director Comey & others, from the beginning of my administration, to find the LEAKERS in the intelligence community....."

The White House said: "The President has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr Comey."